At UTC Aerostructures, a manufacturer of nacelle components for jet engines, everyone has a one-track mind towards continuous improvement. Every employee uses very detailed standard work to eliminate waste and speed up cycle time. Takt time clocks are utilized throughout the facility, breaking down an 8-hour workday (or 25,200 seconds) into four periods of 6,300 seconds each, that countdown to ensure the plant meets its production goals for the day. UTC Aerostructures has found that reducing waste, in the form of time, significantly improves efficiency and allows the plant to continuously improve.
